Freedom of religion or belief across borders 

PROCMURA – Dialogue and peace in Sub-Saharan Africa 

PROCMURA works to promote peace, respect, and reconciliation among people of different faiths. 

From its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, PROCMURA engages in inter-religious dialogue and peace-building efforts across various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. This Christian organization, active since 1959, is dedicated to fostering peaceful relations between Christians and Muslims on the African continent. They perceive this mission as an integral part of their Christian mandate and operate at both leadership and grassroots levels. While PROCMURA works across 20 countries, Stefanus Alliance support extends specifically to their initiatives in three nations: Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria. 

PROCMURA works to promote peace, respect, and reconciliation among people of different faiths in many ways and on many levels, e.g.: by mediating in neighborly disputes between Christians and Muslims, by contributing to increased understanding among family members in interfaith marriages, and by facilitating high-level discussions between politicians and religious leaders. 

PROCMURA provide education on the right to freedom of religion of belief. In order to achieve this, they utilize training resources developed by Stefanus Alliance and NORFORB, adapting these resources to the local context. Beyond the training itself, those who undergo religious freedom education become part of a broader network, connecting with others in their area advocating for the same cause. This network provides support, inspiration, and access to resources for conducting training sessions for others. 
Through the collaboration between Stefanus Alliance and PROCMURA, knowledge and respect for freedom of religion or belief are enhanced in Sub-Saharan Africa, among both religious leaders and the general population. This contributes to the creation of peaceful societies, safeguarding the dignity and the right to believe for every individual. 

 

Teaching freedom of religion or belief online 

A digital learning platform for teaching about freedom of belief provides free access to online learning resources. It also offers customized courses for individuals who want to conduct workshops on freedom of religion or belief in their own communities. 

The digital learning platform is developed by NORFORB, a Nordic religious network for freedom of religion or belief. In addition to the freely accessible learning platform, there are also tailored, guided online courses for individuals who want to become workshop facilitators.

In societies facing significant challenges related to freedom of belief, many people may not be aware of what religious freedom entails. Actors in civil society and individuals may lack understanding of their rights or how to advocate for the respect of freedom of religion or belief. 

Through education and courses on human rights and freedom of religion or belief, people's knowledge and awareness of their own and others' rights are increased. To work towards change, it is important to be aware of one's rights and methods for addressing it. At the same time, it is fundamental to work on one's own attitudes so as not to contribute to maintaining prejudices and discrimination against others. 

Faith-based organizations, religious communities, and non-governmental organizations play a crucial role in strengthening democracy, holding authorities accountable, and promoting peaceful coexistence. Through education in human rights and freedom of religion or belief, Stefanus Alliance aims to build local civil society and empower people to understand and advocate for their own rights 

Go to the DIGITAL LEARNING PLATFORM.

 

Freedom of religion or belief training in the Arabic-speaking world 

The Adyan Foundation conducts education on freedom of religion or belief in the Arab world. 

Alongside our partner in Lebanon, Adyan, Stefanus Alliance conducts training on freedom of religion or belief in the Arabic-speaking world. The courses are specifically aimed at leaders of religious communities, artists, and journalists. These individuals significantly contribute to influencing the conversation about the right to have, choose, and practice faith within their respective contexts. Through our partner, they gain access to seminars, resources, and networks. This equips, encourages, and provides them with tools to share the knowledge further in their local communities. 

 

Freedom of religion or belief: Legal assistance 

Stefanus Alliance supports legal assistance for individuals fighting for their fundamental rights. 

Stefanus Alliance supports a law firm operating in an Eastern European country. Due to the safety of the partner, we cannot disclose their location or the specific country they operate in. 

The lawyers provide free legal assistance primarily to individual Christians and churches, but also to other religious communities. In addition, they provide training on freedom of religion or belief for believers, report on violations, and engage in advocacy with political authorities and international organizations. 

In the short term, legal assistance is used to help victims defend their rights. In the long term, freedom of religion or belief and human rights, are strengthened when the rights of many victims are recognized. Successful legal processes can also lead to legislative changes that protect freedom of religion or belief and the right to practice one's faith. 

Legal assistance involves providing legal advice to individuals who otherwise would not have access to such help. The client often only needs to understand their own situation or receive guidance on how to assert their rights against authorities. In some cases, it may be possible and necessary to pursue legal action. 

In many countries, ordinary people may not be able to defend their rights – the legal system is too complex or they cannot afford it. Legal aid can therefore be crucial to ensure justice for all. 

For some time, Stefanus Alliance has aimed to strengthen and expand projects related to legal aid. Through the initial three-year agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2018-2021) and the new agreement (2021-2024), funds have been allocated to support lawyers providing legal aid to victims of persecution due to religion. Additionally, the funds will be used for educating lawyers on how to combat persecution and what tools they can use to defend victims.